Trying out that foreign-but-fun-looking equipment at the gym is kinda like pairing stripes with patterns. Everybody’s doing it, and it sounds like a neat idea … but how the hell do you pull it off? Especially if it’s your first trip to the gym in, um, a while.

Simple. You breeze through our how-to guide, with smartypants moves from gear guru Bryan Jackson, a former pro soccer player and trainer at the P.E.P.P.E.R. program in New York City. Using these tools, you’ll love your sweat sessions way more—and damn, those workouts will look good on you.

Plyo boxes come in a range of heights, from as little as six inches tall to four feet high. Pick a height that challenges your jumping ability (ahem, skip that six-inch box, please), but isn’t so high that it makes you nervy or forces you to use your hips, rather than your legs, to power you up. Most newbies can tackle an 18-incher.

Try it: Stand in front of the plyo box, feet hip-width apart. Squat halfway down, then explode up, pumping your arms upward to propel you, and landing softly in a squat on top of the box. Step back down with one foot, than the other, and repeat. Do 3 sets of 5 reps.

What it works: Abs, butt, legs

Prowler

This mess of metal works a lot like a loaded-up shopping cart—except pushing it will tone your ass and legs like no Costco run ever could.

Go-to move: Prowler walk

The prowler itself weighs 60 to 80 pounds, so load it with light plates to start (10-pounders should do) on the two metal rods, and work up in weight from there.

Try it: Make sure you’ve got plenty of space, and position yourself on the side with the rods closest to you. Get into a forward lunge gripping the rods and push the prowler like you would a shopping cart for 5 minutes, turning it and doubling back as you need for space.

What it works: Arms, back, butt, legs

Balance Disc

Sure, you know what this is. “Um, self explanatory,” you say. But have you ever actually used a balance disc at the gym? (And we mean besides standing on it for five wobbly seconds then deciding, nope, this is stupid.) Well, now you will. This move from Jackson takes an oldie-but-goodie—the side plank—and adds the balance disc for abs-olutely incredible core cuts.

Go-to move: Side plank reach

Try it: Lay on your right side, feet stacked in center of balance disc, right forearm on floor, elbow underneath shoulder, and left arm raised to ceiling. Raise hips to create a line from feet to shoulder. Hold for a beat, then sweep your left arm down to reach between your torso and the floor, twisting so you can see your left hand. Return to start; repeat. Do 3 sets of 12 reps on each side.

What it works: Shoulders, abs, obliques, lower back

Sandbag

They’re more than a failsafe from flooding! The constantly shifting sand inside the bag gives you dynamic resistance when you’re carrying, lifting and throwing these babies—which means you’ll firm and burn faster than using traditional weights. We’re seeing sandbags used more and more in bootcamps and group classes, and they’re becoming staples in obstacle runs like the Spartan Race and Civilian Military Combine.

Go-to move: Because we heart them so much, we’ve got a whole workout—plus a DIY on how to make your own sandbag—for you to try. P.S. It’ll also get you in kickass shape to nail a mud run, if that’s on your 2013 crush-it list.

Battle Ropes

Remember that ginormous rope you used for tug-a-war as a kid? Remember how using it always kinda sucked? (The rope burn! Feeling ridiculous when you lost your footing! The rope burn!) This will be nothing like that. But the props are pretty much the same. Trainers and bootcamp instructors love using these burly, oversized ropes for their awesome ability to ratchet your heart rate way up and give you total-body toning at the same time. Next time you see ‘em at the gym, walk straight over and try this.

Go-to move: Alternating squat wave

Try it: Stand with feet wide and grab a rope end in each hand, fists together (the ends are wrapped in rubber, so no rope burn; score!). Squat low, with back flat, shoulders down and chest out. Explode up, pulling hands wide apart in front of you, elbows slightly bent, then squat again, bringing hands back together; this creates a wave effect on the rope. Continue as quickly as you can for 40 seconds, then rest for 20 seconds. Repeat twice.

TRX

It doesn’t look like much—just a tangle of straps and handles—but you can do hundreds of killer toning moves on this trendy suspension system. Group classes devoted to TRX moves are becoming super popular, and it’s also easy to use outside the gym (check out the company’s sweet new at-home kit. Whether you’re testing the waters in a class, or solo at your club, you’ll want to know how to do this sculptor. It’s one of the simplest to master and modify.

Go-to move: Standing push-up

Try it: Adjust the straps so the TRX handles hang above hip height. Face away from the anchor point with feet shoulder-width apart and hold the handles with your arms extended. Slowly lower chest to handles, bending elbows out to sides. Press arms back to start; repeat. Do 3 sets of 12 reps. Tip? To make it easier, walk feet farther away from the anchor point, to make it tougher, walk them closer.

What it works: Shoulders, chest, back, abs

Superband

Think of this like a gigantic rubber band that can fit around your entire body. You may have used these suckers before to do assisted pull-ups (you tie the band around the bar, then step or tuck your knees in the loop to help spring you up during the “pull” part ). But they’re also awesome total-body toning tools. Unlike typical resistance bands, there’s no fumbling (if you’ve ever tried to rig a handled resistance band to a doorjamb only to have it fly in your face, you know what we mean). Because the Superband is one huge loop, you are the anchor. Which makes using one—almost anywhere—cake.

Go-to move: Guess what? We think the Superband is so rad, we designed a head-to-toe workout with it. Best? It’ll only take you 10 minutes. FYI before you start: The width of a Superband indicates its resistance level. So if you’re used to wielding 5-pound dumbbells, opt for a half-inch band. Comfy with 8s and heavier? Try 3/4 to 1 inch.

Dynamax Ball

If a stress ball and a medicine ball had a baby, that lovechild would be the Dynamax. This soft, squishy, weighted wonder is big enough to wrap up in a hug—then hurtle against a wall or slam on the ground for a tension-melting workout that melts cals and hones hot muscles.

Go-to move: Squat, toss & catch

All Dynamax balls are 14 inches in diameter, and they can range from 4 to 30 pounds. For Jackson’s move below, try a 6- to 8-pounder to start, and upgrade as you get more badass.

Try it: Stand with feet hip-width apart and holding the Dynamax ball in both hands at waist, elbows bent. Squat low, then explosively jump up, simultaneously throwing the ball into the air above your head. Catch it, then return to start and repeat. Do 3 sets of 10 reps.

What it works: Everything! Shoulders, chest, back, abs, butt, legs

Parallete Bars

If you’ve seen these in your gym, first, kudos! You’re in a true athlete training facility. Second, don’t they look like the world’s smallest parallel bars? That’s part of their heritage (those beefy gymnasts who can work it on the 6-foot-tall real parallel bars had to start somewhere), but they’re also clutch for athletes and regular fit folk to use for body-weight exercises.

Go-to move: See saw

This souped-up plank will challenge even the hardest of cores. Plus, you’ll look hella cool doing it at the gym. 2016 Games, anyone?

Try it: Set the bars parallel and about two feet apart. Start in push-up position, hands gripping center of bars, body in line from shoulders to heels. Shift all your weight to your hands, and tuck your knees in, kicking your feet through the bars and planting your heels on the floor on the opposite side, hips up and legs straight, in a reverse plank. Reverse movement to return to start. Do 3 sets of 10 reps.

What it works: Shoulders, abs, lower back, hips, legs

Ab Incline Bench

Unlike all that heavy-metal equipment in the weight room, the simplicity of the ab incline bench—it looks just like it sounds!—makes it mildly approachable. But maybe you’ve done a driveby and just thought “Uh-uh.” Machines are intimidating, and often there are a dozen other more simple, dynamic and effective exercises you can do rather than jump on one.

But this one’s different. It uses gravity to shred your abs into Gwen-Stefani-lookalikes. We know, we know. That plush surface and reclined angle begs for a swell place to take a breather, not do sweaty work. But trust us. Use this bench at the gym, and you’ll be the six-pack benchmark.

Go-to move: Dragon flag

Try it: Lie face-up on the bench with your head near the top, hands gripping the foot pads, weight resting on shoulder blades, legs flat on the bench. Tighten your abs, and, keeping legs straight, raise your hips until the soles of your feet are parallel to the ceiling. Slowly lower your legs until they’re parallel to the floor (and not touching the bench!); rise back up for 1 rep. Do 2 sets of 8 reps.